My students need Advanced Placement level books that are relevant to the current national debate on Race. Coates's Between the World and Me has high interest subject matter delivered with sophisticated rhetoric.
FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Weber's classroom raised $2,271
This project is fully funded
My Students
Nothing makes me more uncomfortable than talking about "my students" as a monolith- each young person is a special individual and attempts at group classification inevitably inaccurate. So here is my attempt an an establishing shot that captures this group without the (necessary) close ups. High School Seniors living in East New York Brooklyn. Many African Americans whose family have lived in BK for generations, many 1st generation Carribbean immigrants--all accepting the challenge of the AP English Language course.
My Project
Studies have shown that exposure to Advanced Placement courses in high school lead to greater student success in college. For years, many students in East New York, Brooklyn had no access to these AP courses. Through cooperation with APEX (AP Expansion Program), the school where I teach has brought these classes to a whole new spectrum of students. Over the last 3 years, our school has tripled our AP course offerings, doubled our total students enrolled in the courses, and last year, had a record number of students receive passing scores on the AP exams.
The course I teach, Advanced Placement English Language, aims to teach students how to expertly read and write about nonfiction texts.
Yes, they must tackle the rhetoric of writers like old, stodgy Lord Chesterfield and Alexis de Tocqueville, but by first grappling with artful contemporary nonfiction writers (such as Coates) this task is made more approachable.
I taught an excerpt from this book last year and it served as the impetus for the year's most successful unit- the unit in which student arguments in writing and socratic seminar were most passionate. The best thing about Coates's book is that it serves as a Gateway to other thinkers. After reading a little of Between the World and Me- students were enthusiastic to dive into James Baldwin, Sonia Sanchez, even Tolstoy. Yes, this book touches on these old, yellowed-page classics but also informs Beyonce's hi-def arguments. Speaks to the violence you will see on your Facebook feed tomorrow. Simultaneously academic and high interest.
The primary goal of my course is to prepare students for college reading and writing. For this work, Between the World and Me by Ta Nehisi Coates is a necessary tool.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Weber and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":true,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"NY","teacherPossessivePronoun":"his","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":4,"name":"High School"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/between-the-world-and-me-for-ap-class-in/2158744/","mayHaveReplacements":false,"numStudents":120,"isEquityFocusV1":true,"teacherScreenName":"Mr. Weber","isEquityFocus":true,"proposalHash":"1659608097","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"photosPublished":true,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"shouldTrackEquityFocusV2":true,"schoolCity":"Brooklyn","teachersOnPage":[2600281],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":true,"proposalId":2158744,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"schoolId":20849,"schoolName":"Academy for Young Writers","authorIds":{"2600281":{"owner":"Mr. Weber","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[2158744],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherHasProfilePhoto":false,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":19,"teacherChallengeId":20823040,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":["MTAyMTI=","MjkyMjkz","MjMzNTk2Mg==","MzgxMDI0OA==","MTgzMDUxOQ==","MjczMDU1Mg==","Mzc5OTk5MA==","MzcxNzUwOQ==","MzM4NjAzOQ==","MjYwMDI4MQ==","Mzc5ODc4Ng==","MjMzOTAyNA==","MzgwNjIzNw==","Mzg0MDIxMg==","MjI0ODY0MA==","MjU2MDEz","MzgwMDQwNA==","Mjg3NTgwNA==","NTE1NjI=","MzQwMDExMw==","MzgxOTcwOA=="],"teacherId":2600281,"schoolCounty":"Kings (Brooklyn)","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"NY","name":"New York"}}